Extinction theory and planet X

http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2016/03/30/Is-Planet-X-to-blame-for-Earths-mass-extinctions/6771459342170/

Could planet X be responsible for the periodic mass extinctions on earth about every 30 million years?

And are we not due again?

Originally posted by whodey
http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2016/03/30/Is-Planet-X-to-blame-for-Earths-mass-extinctions/6771459342170/

Could planet X be responsible for the periodic mass extinctions on earth about every 30 million years?

And are we not due again?

The article actually says 27 million years.
The dinosaur extinction event was 66 million years ago.
Therefore the next scheduled extinction event is in twelve million years. We are almost exactly half way between extinction events (assuming the periodicity of such events is real).
So no, we are not due again just yet.

Originally posted by twhitehead
The article actually says 27 million years.
The dinosaur extinction event was 66 million years ago.
Therefore the next scheduled extinction event is in twelve million years. We are almost exactly half way between extinction events (assuming the periodicity of such events is real).
So no, we are not due again just yet.

As a matter of fact...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holocene_extinction

Originally posted by DeepThought
As a matter of fact...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holocene_extinction

that's true. But that mass extinction has none natural causes and doesn't include the extinction of us (at least not yet).

Originally posted by DeepThought
As a matter of fact...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holocene_extinction

Clearly that one is not due to periodic causes.

Some other mass extinctions such as the Great Oxygenation Event were also not periodic and were one off events:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Oxygenation_Event